The surviving Navy crew valiantly worked to cordon off the areas taking on water.

The container ship ACX Crystal is seen Saturday with its left bow dented and scraped after colliding with the USS Fitzgerald.

(Hitoshi Takano/AP)

“The water flow was tremendous, and so there wasn’t a lot of time in those spaces that were open to the sea,” said Aucoin, adding that “they had to fight the ship to keep it above the surface. It was traumatic.”

The Navy is investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred on a clear night. The area is a heavily trafficked spot with as many as 400 ships traveling past each day.

Based on the damage, it appears as if the ACX Crystal smashed into the much smaller destroyer at a high speed.

The container ship appeared to be trying to change paths by making a U-turn right before the crash, according to some ship trackers.

The 20-member Filipino crew was uninjured, according to Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen K.K., which operates the ship.

The seven sailors were in the ship’s berthing compartments during the crash.

(Iori Sagisawa/AP)

“We are struck by deep sorrow,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a message to President Trump Sunday. “I express my heartfelt solidarity to America at this difficult time,” he added.